Authorities have conflict with illegitimate clergymen, not Church, reiterates ruling party lawmaker

The Armenian authorities don’t have any conflict with the Armenian Apostolic Church, a senior lawmaker representing the ruling party has said.

Artur Hovhannisyan, the Secretary of the Civil Contract faction of parliament, told reporters that the authorities have an issue with several high-ranking clergymen of the Armenian Apostolic Church and not the Church itself. 

According to him, the authorities have issues with clergy who have “violated their vows to God, degrading every possible value through their behavior.”

Responding to a question about whether dialogue with Catholicos Karekin II is possible, Hovhannisyan said that such dialogue could only occur regarding Karekin II’s resignation.

“Dialogue cannot be about whether a clergyman who has violated the vow of celibacy should continue their service while we, as a devout people, accept it,” Hovhannisyan said.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has accused Catholicos Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, of illegitimately holding office and urged him to step down. Pashinyan has accused the Catholicos of breaching his vow of celibacy and fathering a child. In turn, the clergymen have accused the Prime Minister of waging an anti-church campaign. Pashinyan has denied this, describing himself as a devout follower of the Armenian Apostolic Church who seeks to “liberate” it from corruption and illegitimacy. Karekin II has so far ignored the accusations.